Ocala, FL – On Friday evening, the $15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix returned to the WEC Grand Arena under the lights to give aspiring and developing horse-and-rider combinations a chance to compete in an atmosphere that resembles the Saturday night grand prix. A field of 35 combinations vied for the top prize, but it was Penny Brennan (GBR) that saved the best for last and surpassed the field aboard her own Vertigo Delorme (Chacco Blue x Faretana).
FEI Level III course designer Peter Grant (CAN) set the developing tracks for the future stars of show jumping. With several intricate challenges, 10 managed to keep all rails up and stay within the tight time allowed to return for the jump-off.
It was a chase, as one rider after another set a new time to beat, but last to go, Penny Brennan received some helpful words before she went into the ring with Vertigo Delorme, “My plan came from Steve McAllister. He said, ‘Penny, your horse is already fast, so think slow and you’ll still win.’ That really helped me take a breath. So, thank you, Steve and Jenni McAllister for coaching me for this class.”
Shaving off nearly one second, Brennan and the 14-year-old Westphalian stallion rose to the top of the leaderboard and galloped away with the victory in 37.688 seconds.
Brennan spoke about her longtime partner Vertigo Delorme, “This is our sixth year together. I got him as a 1.30m horse and he is just amazing. He owned it tonight and had more style than Michael Jackson out there.”
Tami Fratis, owner of Tamarian Farms Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida, expressed her praise in Brennan’s achievements and extended her gratitude to her dedicated team following the successful night, “Penny is one of the trainers at Tamarian Farms. She’s so dedicated and if anyone can help riders accomplish their dreams, it’s her that can help make it happen,” shared Fratis. “We have an amazing team here including Penny, Markus Mumme, Karolina Wignall, Robert Stucky, Tyler Haney and our amazing barn staff. We feel so blessed to be able to show here and have WEC just three miles down the road.”
Second place honors went to Derek Petersen (USA) and his own Zechariah (Zirocco Blue VDL x Karina). Petersen piloted the nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding to a quick and clear jump-off round in 38.646 seconds for the red ribbon.
Richard Spooner (USA) earned himself his second podium finish of the week, this time aboard Molly Ohrstrom’s talented seven-year-old Argentinian Sport Horse stallion Halcon, with a swift time of 39.960 seconds.
$15,000 Buckeye Nutrition Futures Prix Results:
1 Vertigo Delorme, Penny Brennan, Penny Brennan: 0 | 0 | 37.688
2 Zechariah, Derek Petersen, Derek Petersen: 0 | 0 | 38.646
3 Halcon, Richard Spooner, Molly Ohrstrom: 0 | 0 | 39.960
4 Karlotta CL, Manuel Torres, Alejandra Ortiz Orozco: 0 | 0 | 40.596
5 Premier 2S, Marcello Ciavaglia, Marcello Ciavaglia: 0 | 0 | 40.902
6 Yalambis Ikon, Maddison Stephen, Maddison Stephen: 0 | 0 | 42.549
7 Beijing LS LA Silla, David Cameron, David Cameron: 0 | 0 | 43.179
8 S & L Cesam, Tracy Fenney, MTM Farm: 0 | 4 | 41.404
9 Doo-Wop, Megan Wexler, Golden Oaks Farm, LLC: 0 | 4 | 42.020
10 MTM Exotik, Dorothy Douglas, Nina Koloseike: 0 | EL
Photos courtesy of Andrew Ryback Photography.
Videos available at ClipMyHorse.TV
For final results visit HorseShowing.com or Ryegate.Live.
Make sure to visit the WEC Blog and follow us on social media @worldequestriancenter for full coverage on all feature classes!